Art therapy offered Sunday afternoons

Charleston's heart is broken, and area residents are struggling with feelings of grief, fear, anger and helplessness as they try to understand the senseless murders at Emanuel AME Church.

Although grief doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution, residents in communities with other traumatic events - Sandy Hook and Boston - tapped into their creative process to find help with their feelings and emotions.

A new initiative, launched by HEARTS MEND HEARTS with Charleston County Public Library, is offering similar support to local residents faced with feelings of stress, dread or grief prompted by the church shooting. 

Residents can work with experienced artists and mental health professionals during art-based sessions each Sunday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Charleston County's Main Library, 68 Calhoun Street. There is no age limit and no art experience is needed. Art materials are being provided for the free sessions. Free HEARTS MEND HEARTS sessions are Sundays 2:30 to 4pm until the end of December.

The goal is to help individuals use art as a tool to tap into their creativity, express feelings and ultimately work toward healing - all while in a safe environment.

The creative art process has been used for hundreds of years to help people identify emotions, encourage communication and promote healing. Understanding this connection, a group of local art therapists, educators, mental health professionals and artists joined together to create HEARTS MEND HEARTS in hopes of helping the Charleston community.

The professionals will lead attendees through the steps to create mandalas, an internationally recognized process that encourages individuals to identify personal emotions and reconcile conflicts.

HEARTS MEND HEARTS includes numerous art and mental health professionals, all volunteering their time. The organization was started by a small group that included: Registered Art Therapist Dianne Tennyson Vincent, MAT, ATR; Psychiatrist Deborah Milling, MD; Psychoanalyst Sharon Martin, FNP, CNS, PhD; and Nationally Board Certified Art Educator Laura De LaMaza.

If you have any questions about any of the upcoming events, 

feel free to contact the

Reference Department at 843-805-6930.

Main Library

68 Calhoun Street

Charleston, SC 29407

843-805-6930 www.ccpl.org

Mon-Thur 9-8, Fri-Sat 9-6,  Sun 2-5

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